(TÜV Rheinland: Newtown, Connecticut) -- On Feb. 1, a new version of the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) compliance standard EN 61326-1:2006 became mandatory. With the new mandate, laboratory device manufacturers may need to retest some of their products to satisfy certain technical revisions to the newly updated standard. TÜV Rheinland, supplier of global testing, assessment, and certification services, says many companies might update their products CE marks altogether to assure compliance.

The 1997 standard and its amendments are no longer valid. EN 61326-1:2006—“Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control, and Laboratory Use EMC Requirements” covers the minimum EMC performance of electrical equipment intended for professional, industrial process, and educational use. It includes equipment and computing devices for measurement and test, control, and laboratory use and associated accessories.

“Manufacturers previously tested their products to the 1997 standard and its amendments. Unfortunately, those are no longer valid,” says Bruce Fagley, EMC laboratory manager at TÜV Rheinland. “If you are CE marking products that fall under the new EMC directive 2004/108/EC and EN 61326-1 for EMC compliance, then it’s important to retest or risk being pulled from the global market.”

The following are the standards’ newly updated technical requirements:

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